Lifting truck



I March 4, 1941. w. ZEINDLER LIFTING TRUCK Filed Oct. '7, 1940 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March 4, 1941. w. ZEINDLER 2,

LIFTING TRUCK Filed Oct. 7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v \i! 4; I a? 4.1 155 slit INVENTOR. I

BY 8 M%@% Patented Mar. 4, 1941 PATENT OFFICE- 2,233,503 LIFTING TRUCK Werner Zeindler; Albion, Mich, assignor to Service Caster and Truck Company, Albion,

MIich.

Application October 7,

8 Claims.

'Thehiai'n objects of this invention are: I First. to provide an improved hoisting or lifting truck whien is capable of lifting the load with a relatively Jsiri'all amount of physical exertion on 5 the part of the operator. 7

Second, to provide a lifting or hoisting truck i i which the parts are 'so arranged that the stresses are effectively sustained during the liftl to pr'vid a structure embodying these advantages "which is eomparatively simple and economical and at the same time strong and w e Objects pertaining to details and economies of intention will definitely ap e r from the description to follow. invention is defined in the elaiins. I

I A strueture embodying the features of the inveiihen is meant illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which; I

Fig. 1 is side e evation of a hoisting truck embodying the features or my invention with the hoisting platform n lowered or unaccuateaposition, the ombiiied tongue and hoisting lever being show'ri iii elevated position. I

Fig; [2'15 a. frnt el'evation in vertical section thifdugh the inner end of the tongue.

' Fig. 3 is ai'i enlarged fragmentary side elevation illustrating eer'tain details of the ratchet rum 3i) tongue holding and actuating pawls partially in section on iiiie 9+3 of Fig. 2. y a v F g. 4 is an enlarged ragme tary view mainly in section-on line 4-4 f Fig. 2 showing further details; one position of the tonguebeing' shown in full lines and the holding 'pawl releasing position in dotted lines. V

presefit iiiiieiitioii is, an adaptation or ertain features of my appiieation for Letters Patent Serial No. 302,860, filed November 4, 1939,

patented September 10, 1940 as Patent 2,214,005.

The embodiment of niy invention illustrated in the aeeemeanymg drawings comprises a carriage frame I hating a rear aide 2 and rear carrying wheels 3. The carriage frame is provided with an elevated forwardly projecting bolster 4 at its front end and comprising spaced upright side members 5 with a. head or cross piece 6. The front wheels I are provided with laterally projecting wheel spindles 9 carried by and projecting outwardly from the hanger arms Ill of the axle support or caster member I I, this caster member or front wheel support having a head I 2 journaled on the tubular k'in'g bolt I3 carried by the bolster.

Bearing balls I4 are interposed between the head I2 and the bolster, see Fig. 4, while a roller bear- 1940; Serial No. 360,033

ing designated generally by the numeral I5 is provided between the support or caster head and the king bolt.

Extending between the hanger members I0 is the shaft I6 having the ratchet drum I'I thereon or a drum provided with ratchet teeth. The combined tongue and hoisting lever I8 is provided with forks I9 at its inner end oscillatingly mounted on the shaft IS. The tongue I8 is provided with an actuating pawl 20 slidable in the slots 2| and manually shiftable into ratchet engaging position by means of the lever 22 pivoted at 23 and having a control rod 24 connected thereto. the control rod having a handpiece 25 adjacent the grip 26 of the tongue. The ratchet drum is provided with l ends 33 in supporting engagement with the inner end of the tongue. A lever 34 is pivoted at 35 on the tongue and provided with a footpiece 38. This lever is connected by the link 31 to the releasing members 3l. A coiled spring 38 acts to retract the pawl releasing member, see the released and actuated positions in Figs. 3 and i, respectively With the holding pawl releasing members in their actuated or projected position as shown by full lines in Fig. 4, the tongue is swung forwardly to the position shown by dotted lines, which forces the releasing member under the holding pawl and disengages it from the ratchet drum. It will be appreciated that considerable force may be required to disengage the holding pawl when under load.

The hoisting platform 39 is provided with forwardly inclined ways 40 and 4! which coact with rollers 42 on the carriage frame so that the hoisting platform is simultaneo-uslyelevated with its forward movement. This hoisting platform is provided with an upright 43 at its forward end. A hoisting cable 45, in the embodiment illustrated in the form of a sprocket chain, is passed over a supporting and guide roller 46 which is mounted on uprights 41 on the bolster, the uprights being so positioned and the roller of such diameter that the reach of the cable between the roller and the point of attachment of the cable to the upright 43 lies "at an angle approximating that of the angle of the inclined Ways, it being slightly less. This arrangement, broadly considered, is a feature of the above identified application and the subject matter of certain claims thereof. The guide 46 is also positioned so that it guides the vertical reach of the cable centrally through the tubular king bolt [3, see Fig. 4.

A swivel 48 is provided in the cable in advance of the section 49 of the cable which is attached to the ratchet drum as indicated at 50. This swivel permits swinging of the tongue Without twisting of the cable.

It will be observed that the shaft N5 of the drum is disposed somewhat at the rear of the axis of the steering wheels so that the vertical reach of the hoisting cable lies in substantially the vertical plane of the axis of the front axle. This minimizes the strain upon the various parts and prevents binding or frictional engagement of the cable with adjacent parts, providing a direct pull thereon. The hoisting platform is preferable provided with a return check or dashpot 5| of the hydraulic type, that is, it consists of a cylinder and plunger, the cylinder in this instance being mounted on the carriage frame and the plunger being connected to the platform. I have not illustrated the details of this return check as they form no part of my present invention.

In operation, after the load which it is desired to elevate has been placed upon the platform the tongue is oscillated as a hoisting lever, the actuating pawl being suitably manipulated to actuate the ratchet or winding drum. The holding pawl acts automatically as the ratchet drum is rotated. When it is desired to release the load the lever 34 is actuated with the tongue in lowered position as shown in Fig. 4. The tongue is then swung to position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, which forces the cammedends 33 of the releasing members under the holding pawl, disengaging the pawl from the drum. This may be done with relatively slight effort even though there is a heavy load on the platform.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain other embodiments or adaptations of my invention which I contemplate as it .is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a lifting truck, the combination with carriage frame provided with an elevated forwardly projecting bolster'at its front end, rear wheels and axle therefor, a tubular king bolt on said bolster, a front wheel support journaled on said king bolt in supporting relation to said bol ster, said support comprising spaced hanger members provided with outwardly projecting spindles for said wheels, a ratchet drum shaft carried by said hangers disposed at the rear of said spindles, a ratchet drum journaled on said shaft between said hanger'members, a steering tongue constituting a hoisting lever pivotally mounted on said shaft between said hangermembers and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a holding pawl for said ratchet drum, manually adjustable means forreleasing said holding pawl mounted on said tongue, a platform provided with forwardly inclined ways, said carriage frame-being provided with supporting rollers with which said forwardly inc inecl W ys c ct, said platform having an upright at its forward end disposed at the rear of said bolster, and a hoisting cable connected to said upright and to said ratchet drum, said cable being passed through said tubular king bolt, there being a guide roller for said cable mounted on said bolster and positioned to guide the cable vertically through said king bolt and so that the reach of the cable between theguide roller and the point of connection of the cableto said upright lies at an angle approximating that of the angle of said inclined Ways.

2. In a lifting truck, the combination with a carriage frame provided with an elevated forwardly projecting bolster at its front. end, rear wheels and axle therefor, a tubular king bolt on said bolster, a front wheel support journaled on said king bolt in supporting relation to said bolster, provided with spindles for said Wheels, a

ratchet drum shaft carried by said support disposed at the rear of said spindles, a ratchet drum journaled on said shaft, asteering tongue constituting a hoisting lever'pivotally mounted on said shaft and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a releasable holding pawl for said ratchet drum, a platform provided with forwardly inclined ways, said carriage frame being provided with supporting rollers with which said upright lies at an' angleapproximating that of the angle of said inclined ways.

3. In a lifting truck,the combination with a carriage frame provided with an elevated forwardly projecting bolster at its front end, rear wheels and axle therefor, a tubular king bolt on said bolster, a front wheel support journaled on said king bolt in supporting relation to said bolster, said support comprising spaced hanger members provided with outwardly projecting spindles for said wheels, a ratchet drum shaft carried by said hangers disposed at the rear of said spindles, a ratchet drum journaled on said shaft between said hanger members, a steering,

tongue constituting a hoisting lever pivotally mounted on said shaft between said hanger members and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a holding pawl for said ratch et drum, manually adjustable means for releasing said holding pawl mounted on said tongue, a

platform, said carriage frame and platform being provided with coacting forwardly inclined ways androllers, a hoisting cable for said platform connected thereto and to said, ratchet drum, said cable being passed through said tubular king bolt, and a guide roller for said cable mounted on said bolster and positioned'to-guide the cable vertically through said king bolt, there being a swivel in said cable between said guide roller and ratchet drum.

4. In a lifting truck, the combination with a carriage frame provided with an elevated forwardly projecting bolster at its-front end, rear wheels and axle therefor,-a tubular king bolt on said bolster, a front wheel support journaled on said king bolt in supporting relation: to said bolster provided with spindles for said wheels, a ratchet drum shaft carried by said support disposed at the rear of said spindles, a ratchet drum journaled on said shaft, a steering tongue constituting a hoisting lever pivotally mounted on said shaft and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a holding pawl for said ratchet drum, manually adjustable means for I carriage frame provided with a bolster at its front end, rear wheels and axle therefor, front wheels, a front wheel support journaled on said bolster in supporting relation thereto and provided with front wheel spindles, said support comprising spaced hanger members, the front wheels being on the outer sides of said hanger members, a shaft carried by said hanger members disposed at the rear of said wheel spindles a ratchet drum mounted on said shaft between said hanger members, a steering tongue constituting a hoisting lever pivotally mounted on said shaft between said hanger members and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a spring pressed holding pawl for said ratchet drum slidably mounted on the inner sides of said hanger members, holding pawl releasing members slidably mounted on said tongue for coaction with said holding pawl, a releasing lever pivotally mounted on said tongue and having link connection with said releasing members, a spring acting to normally retract said releasing members, a hoisting platform mounted on said carriage frame, and a hoisting cable therefor connected to said ratchet drum.

6. In' a lifting truck, the combination of a carriage frame provided with a bolster at its front end, rear wheels and axle therefor, front wheels, a front wheel support journaled on said bolster in supporting relation thereto and provided with front wheel spindles, said support comprising spaced hanger members, the front wheels being on the outer sides of said hanger members, a

shaft carried by said hanger members disposed at the rear of said wheel spindles, a ratchet drum mounted on said shaft between said hanger members, a steering tongue constituting a hoisting lever pivotally mounted on said shaft between said hanger members and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a holding pawl for said ratchet drum, a holding pawl releasing member mounted on said tongue for coaction with said holding pawl, a hoisting platform mounted on said carriage frame, and a hoisting cable therefor connected to said ratchet drum.

7. In a lifting truck, the combination of a carriage frame provided with a bolster at its front end, rear wheels and axle therefor, front wheels, a front wheel support journaled on said.

bolster in supporting relation thereto and provided with front wheel spindles, said support comprising spaced hanger members, a ratchet drum mounted between said hanger members, a steering tongue constituting a hoisting lever pivotally mounted between said hanger members and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a spring pressed holding pawl for said ratchet drum slidably mounted on the inner sides of said hanger members, holding pawl releasing members slidably mounted on said tongue for coaction with said holding pawl, a releasing o lever pivotally mounted on said tongue and having link connection with said releasing members, a spring acting to normally retract said releasing members, a hoisting platform mounted on said carriage frame, and a hoisting cable therefor connected to said ratchet drum.

8. In a lifting truck, the combination of acarriage frame provided with a bolster at its front end, rear wheels and axle therefor, front wheels, a front wheel support journaled on said bolster in supporting relation thereto and provided with front wheel spindles, said support comprising spaced hanger members, a ratchet drum mounted between said hanger members, a steering tongue constituting a hoisting lever pivotally mounted between said hanger members and provided with an actuating pawl manually shiftable into and out of engagement with said ratchet drum, a holding pawl for said ratchet drum, a holding pawl releasing member mounted on said tongue for coaction with said holding pawl, a hoisting platform mounted on said carriage frame, and a hoisting cable therefor connected to said ratchet drum.

WERNER ZEINDLER. 

